Menu Plan Monday: Back to the grind

So I guess I am back to cooking! :) I am excited that the weather is finally warm enough to do some grilling. I am trying a new recipe (Mexican lasagna) and an old favorite (sausage with potatoes and green beans). I hope y'all have a yummy week!

Monday: Grilled sausage with potatoes and green beans

Tuesday: Stuffed shells, salad, garlic bread

Wednesday: Leftover buffet

Thursday: Grilled steak, corn on the cob, asparagus

Friday: Pizza Night !!

Saturday: Mexican Lasagna, salad

Sunday: Chicken kabobs, tomato salad, baked beans

Works for me Wednesday: Gift bags for older siblings

I am so blessed to have a beautiful healthy new baby girl.

I was worried, however, how the big ones would react to said baby girl. Oh sure, they acted excited before she got here. But any mama knows that things can change after you add a little one to the mix. :)

So, to help a little I came prepared.

I went to the dollar store and got new packs of crayons, fresh coloring books, juice boxes, candy, a little lego kit and a princess compact. I put them in a colorful gift bag for each child and put a big bow on each. I carefully packed them away with my overnight bag awaiting our little blessed event.

When the time came, in the trunk they went. When the kids came to see their new sister, they got a gift from her. They were thrilled and I would like to think that gave the newbie a little edge...but that is probably just mama's wishful thinking....

(( It also helped keep them occupied while daddy got to visit and relax. ))

For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!!

Menu Plan Monday: Living on the kindness of strangers!!

So ......I am a proud parent to a beautiful baby girl! I have not been posting due to wanting to do nothing but stare at my beautiful princess.

I am blessed to have an awesome husband who has been doing the cooking and this week the ladies from church has been feeding us. (Can you say THANKFUL !!!)

My hubs came up with an awesome chicken bruschetta recipe that would knock your socks off and I will be sharing that this week.

Next week I hope to be back in the kitchen....or at least have a menu plan to be :)

Happy eating !!!

Kroger changed their Fuel Savings!

I just got word that Kroger has changed their fuel savings and I thought I would pass it on to all your Kroger shoppers out there. Here are the basics:

* Beginning May 1, Kroger and Shell will team up to help Columbus area customers save on fuel.

* Kroger customers will receive instant savings with Kroger’s new Fuel Rewards program at Kroger, Turkey Mini Market and participating Shell stations.

* Customers have the opportunity to instantly redeem 100 Fuel Points for a 10 cent per gallon price savings at the pump, or up to 1,000 Fuel Points per visit to save up to $1.00 per gallon.

For more info on this exciting new fuel savings (and who couldn't use savings on fuel?!) , please visit www.shell.us/kroger or www.kroger.com/fuel.

Menu Plan Monday- that baby isn't here yet?!?!

When I walked into my OB's office this morning the first thing she said to me was "I cannot believe you have not had that baby yet !!!". This should tell you about my mental state of cooking this week. :) Its easy and simple this week until Sunday and I am soooooo hoping that I will not be around to see that meal! Happy eating y'all!

Monday: Grilled cheese and soup

Tuesday: Rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad

Wednesday: Leftover buffet- daddy's in charge!

Thursday: Chicken enchiladas on whole wheat tortillas, refried beans

Friday: Pizza and wing night

Saturday: Burgers and dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob

Sunday: Beef roast, roasted carrots, asparagus

Free Bowling - Central Ohio !!!

Its about 2 weeks into summer vacation (ok, so maybe less) that the kids start whining that they are bored.

My son decided his birthday activity this year would be for the whole fam to go bowling. I would like to stop and interject here that its sad when you still bowl bad as an adult.....with the bumpers out but that is another post.

Anywho, I picked up a little pamphlet that promised free bowling all summer long to kids 16 and under. Here is the skinny......

AMF is offering a program where kids under 16 score free bowling all summer long.

Just visit freebowling.amf.com to sign up and learn more.

Each week you will be e-mailed coupons for 2 free games per day, per child.

They can bowl for free and also enjoy activities, contests and more!

Just thought I would pass it along :)

Menu Plan Monday: Bring on the HEAT !!

I am not sure if its a craving or the fact that I am willing to try anything to help this baby find "the light", but I am craving spicy!! I found several diabetic, healthy recipes that promise the spice that I need and I am excited to try them!!! I hope they are as good as they sound....happy eating, y'all!!!

Monday: Sloppy joes with cheese, mixed veggies

Tuesday: 3 alarm chili, salad

Wednesday: Buffalo tenders, green beans, baked fries

Thursday: Leftover night...BIG mama is not cookin!

Friday: Pizza night!

Saturday: Slow cooker shrimp Jambalaya

Sunday: Quesedillas with green pepper, onions and cheese, re fried beans

Pregnancy makes you crazy

Since this blog is my therapy I would like to just get some things off my chest. Mostly some crazy things that this pregnancy has made me do...

** Wake up in the middle of the night unable to sleep because some things have been bugging me. So what do I do? I make of list of people to call the next day to tell them all the things that they are doing that bug me....and then I actually do it. Yikes!

** Re- paper and organize every single cabinet and shelf in my kitchen in a week.

** Put a giant anaconda shaped pillow between me and my love at night so that I throw my arms, belly and legs over it. Leaving him exactly 4 inches to sleep....like he is in a coffin. (I may have squinted my eyes at him, daring him to say one word but I'll never talk.)

** I have the worst case of non filtered verbal vomit a prego has ever seen. If it runs through my mind, it slides out my mouth. Often with me slamming my hand over my mouth in disbelief that I just said what I said.

** Deciding I need to tear out my pantry and totally reorganize it, go through 25 totes of kids clothes and pack away my winter clothes.....3 days before I have 40 people come over for my son's birthday party. No pressure.

** Go through 2 whole days of enduring kidney stones because I had stuff to do.

** Getting mad at hubs because he had the audacity to not have kidney stones and a pregnant belly and he was whistling. I started to get out both the big shovel and hefty bags.....it was a close call that day.

Resurrection Rolls

I love the idea of making these rolls at Easter time! It really is a physical reminder that the tomb is empty!!!! (Kids seem to love them too) I especially like a recipe like this since its store bought crescent rolls and this pregnant, contracting, kidney stone dropping mama is all about easy :) Ii hope you enjoy them this resurrection Sunday!!

1 (10 ounce) can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
8 large marshmallows
1/4 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons white sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Lightly grease a baking sheet.

Separate crescent rolls into individual triangles.

In a small bowl, mix together cinnamon and sugar.

Dip a marshmallow into melted butter, then roll in sugar mixture. Place marshmallow into the center of a dough triangle. Carefully wrap the dough around the marshmallow. Pinch the seams together tightly to seal in marshmallow as it melts. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat.

Bake in a preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Find the original recipe here !

Menu plan for the week!

I must admit that this weekend has put me through ringer! I had my sons 5th birthday extravaganza, hospitalized with multiple kidney stones and having contractions like crazy. You can imagine my enthusiasm for cooking at this point. :) But......my family still insists on eating. (They are needs in that way.. ) so the menu planning continues. Its just we are keeping things as stress free and simple as possible. So here it is...happy eating y'all!!!

Monday: Leftover Monday- mama is tired.

Tuesday: Club sandwiches and homemade chicken noodle soup (from freezer)

Wednesday: Grilled marinated chicken, salad and baked potatoes

Thursday: Ravioli lasagna (frozen from previously), spinach salad, garlic bread

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Grilled Delmonico steak, corn on the cob, steamed broccoli

Sunday: Ham and fancy Easter Fixins (That I did not have to cook!)- HE IS RISEN !!!!!

Keeping under the sink, under control!

In keeping with my nesting theme, I thought I would share how I got under my kitchen sink under control. I had everything....well but the sink under there ! :) (Some of the stuff, I wonder how in the world it got there!!! )

I found this 3 pack of baskets at Walmart for $2. I then divided my hand soaps, sponges, dishwasher detergent, dish soaps, gloves and anything else I might need.

It works for me because it stays neat and I can pull the whole thing out if need be....and that works for this crazy mama!!

Menu Plan Monday: Recipes under 20 minutes!

I have a confession to make. The closer I get to birthin this baby.....the less I want to cook. I usually love to cook but these days I am just not feeling it! Which would be fine if I didn't have to eat perfectly balanced due to the gestational diabetes. ~sigh~ So, I have made it my quest to find some EASY diabetic/healthy recipes that won't leave me tired or more importantly, grumpy! I hope you enjoy...happy eating y'all!!

Monday: Stuffed burgers, salad, corn on the cob

Tuesday: Chicken Tacos, re fried beans

Wednesday: Leftover night- yeah!!!

Thursday: Pork kabobs with fresh veggies, green beans, tomato salad

Friday: Pizza and salad night!

Saturday: Tequila honey shrimp, sauteed summer squash and zucchini, brown rice

Sunday: Beef roast, roasted Brussel sprouts and carrots, salad

Works for me Wednesday: Keeping bakeware organized

I am in the midst of hot and heavy nesting. I know this baby will not care that I have re-lined all the cabinets in the kitchen and gotten rid of the Tupperware without matching lids, but somehow the need drives me on.

I have a cabinet for all things baking. It frequently gets cluttered with measuring cups, spoons and tools. (It always seems to happen when I am in the middle of baking something too :( )

While in this most recent nesting kick, I have found the best solution for this.

I used hooks to hang both the measuring cups and spoons. They are out of the way and very easily assessable. And that totally works for me !!!!

For more great WFMW ideas visit We are That Family!

Menu Plan Monday

Hey all !!! I am still trying new diabetic recipes and I have not tried one that my family and I have not loved!! I may just stick with this new way of eating. I have included a new one I want to try. :) I hope y'all have a yummy week!

Monday: Club sandwiches, green beans, carrot sticks with dip

Tuesday: Spicy linguine with chicken, salad

Wednesday: Stuffed green peppers

Thursday: Leftover buffet...if its not movin.....

Friday: Pizza night!

Saturday: Steak kabobs with peppers, mushrooms, onions, over brown rice

Sunday: BBQ ribs, lemon broccoli stir fry, corn on the cob